A storm is brewing in the nascent Kenya Kwanza Alliance over the running mate’s position following revelations by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairman Johnstone Muthama that the slot was not reserved for any particular region.

In an announcement that is likely to cause ripples in the Mount Kenya region, Muthama declared that there was currently no agreement that Deputy President William Ruto would pick his running mate from the voterich area.

“UDA will not pick a running mate based on tribe or region. We seek to eliminate the perception that a running mate must only come from a populous community or region,” he added.

The declaration comes against an entrenched perception that Ruto had already struck a deal to pick his deputy from the region.

The DP has been courting the region with an offer of a running mate position in a bid to marshal votes after he bitterly fell out with President Uhuru Kenyatta who comes from the area. Some of the names fronted for the position are Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua and his Kandara counterpart Alice Wahome.

The two featured prominently in recent rallies held by the new Kenya Kwanza Alliance in Nakuru, Eldama Ravine, Bungoma and Kirinyaga.

The place of Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula in the new formation was also thrown up in the air after Muthama said there was no deal yet tying them to each other.

The former Machakos Senator, who has been entrusted by the DP with superintending the party with less than seven months to the elections, is likely to kick up another storm after he declared that UDA had not entered into any formal coalition agreement with its newfound partners.

“There is no agreement that has been signed by the three political parties. We are friends who are still talking to each other. We will continue to talk until we arrive at an agreement,” said Muthama.

Addressing a press conference in Nairobi, the former senator also declared that there was no agreement to the effect that certain parts of the country are reserved for each of the Kenya Kwanza affiliates, UDA, ANC and Ford Kenya.

“We have not zoned the country. There is no agreement that has been signed to that effect that this party will not field candidates for this party. As of now we are individual political parties, but we are friends,” he said.

Muthama’s declarations came barely three days after it emerged that the Kenya Kwanza Alliance partners had crafted a deal that would see Mudavadi appointed chief minister should Ruto win the presidency in the August 9 elections.

Yesterday, Muthama sought to distance the party from reports of a power-sharing agreement in the coalition, stating that there was no formal document agreed on between the three political parties that have now formed an alliance.

Chief minister

 Muthama clarified that contrary to media reports, the three political outfits had not formalised their unity and urged UDA supporters to treat such reports as rumours.

He also sought to clarify that no agreement had been reached by the three political parties that they will zone areas for each political party so as to optimise their strengths.

For instance, ANC and Ford Kenya are said to have requested UDA not to field any candidates in the Western region counties of Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia and Busia. In exchange, the two parties would also not present candidates in the UDA strongholds in the Rift Valley including Uasin Gishu, Bomet, Nandi, Kericho, Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.

Earlier reports quoting a secret agreement between UDA and the two parties indicated that should Ruto win the polls, Mudavadi would be appointed chief minister, a position similar to a prime minister and would also oversee the Finance docket and two other ministries including Devolution.

Under the same agreement, Wetang’ula’s party would be allocated two Cabinet Secretary positions and a number of appointments to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government.

However, People Daily has not independently verified at this stage if the alliance plans to push for constitutional amendments to anchor some of the proposed positions in the law.

Under the deal, ANC would also produce the candidate for the Nairobi governor’s seat with the running mate coming from UDA. People in Mudavadi’s party have identified Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja as the alliance’s governor candidate while UDA will front a running mate from Mt Kenya.

However, sources have intimated that there is some disquiet among UDA aspirants especially in the Western region and in Nairobi who feel that zoning some areas would lock them out of leadership positions in favour of their partners.

On Sunday, Mudavadi while on the campaign trail in Ongata Rongai, said Kenya Kwanza Alliance was yet to pick its flag-bearer and dismissed claims that Ruto would be the automatic coalition presidential candidate. His allies, however, hoped that Ruto would step down and rally behind Mudavadi.